Lamp support



Nov. 12, 1935.

HAMMAR LAMP SUPPORT Filed Jan 2 1934 .fiarberj- 5 5m 1 1 Y M PatentedNov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP SUPPORT Herbert 6. Emma,Chicago, 111., assignor to Federal Electric Company, Chicago, 111., acor- 12 Claims.

My invention relates in general to holders and has more particularreference to a receptacle for receiving and supporting luminescentdischarge devices while connecting the same in an electrical circuit,the device of my present invention being especially adapted forsupporting luminescent discharge tubes upon suitable support panels.

Discharge devices of this general character are usually made in tubularform of relatively fragile material and are mounted for display uponsupporting panels, the ends of the tubular elements being 'bent andpassed through openings in the panel to permit-attachment in anelectrical circuit rearwardly of the panel, and it is an importantobject of my present invention to provide a support for carrying theend-of the discharge device at a point'where it extends through thepanel including simple and inexpensive means for connecting the end ofthe device in an electrical circuit behind the panel.

Another important object is to provide a support of simple andinexpensive construction, easy to apply on a perforated panel andfacilitatingthe connection of the supported device in an externalelectrical circuit.

Another important object is to provide a bushing for supporting a deviceextending through a panel, said bushing having an extension carrying ayielding contact in alignment with the bushing and in position to makeyielding contact with a device inserted through said bushing, a furtherobject being to form the yielding contact in an inexpensive mannerwhereby to reduce production costs.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, which, taken-in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing: I

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through a panel carrying aluminescent discharge element supported in a receptacle or holderembodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 inFigure l; t

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a part of my improved support;

Figure 4 isa perspective view of a resilient electrode mounting forminga part of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1 viewedfrom the rear of the panel; and

REISSUED Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line6-6 in Figure 5.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing, a support forreceiving and supporting the end ll of a luminescent discharge 5 tube I3 mounted on a panel ii. The portion of the tube ii in front of thepanel is carried on one or more supports II of suitable form adapted tobe mounted on the panel and extend forwardly thereof to support thedischarge element in 10 spaced position in front of the panel. The bentend of the discharge device extends through a suitable opening l9 formedin the panel in order to permit said end to be concealed behind thepanel and there connected in an external electri- 15 cal circuitfurnishing power for operating the device. a

In order to support the end of the tube in the opening i9, I haveprovided means comprising a bushing 2i having a central bore 23 adaptedto 20 snugly receive the end ll of the discharge device I and having aflange 25 at the forward end of the bushing wide enough .to overlieandtclose the opening l9 around the tube end. The bushing 2i has anexternally threaded cylindrical portion 25 21 extending rearwardly ofthe flange 25 through the opening IS in position to thread into aninternally threaded perforation formed in 3. preferably plate-likeportion 29 connected preferably at the base of a pedestal 3| in apreferably integral fash- 30 ion. When the bushing 2i is threaded intothe plate-like portion 29, the pedestal 3| will be secured on the panelIS in position extending rearwardly thereof, the panel being clamped byand between the plate 29 and the flange 25 of the 35 bushing 2|.

In practice, it is difilcult to form the discharge element i3 with itsbent end accurately aligned with the axis of the opening l9 and in orderto afford substantial tolerance to accommodate for 40 the eccentricityof the bent end II with respect to the perforation IS, the cylindricalportion 21 of the bushing is preferably formed with an external diametersubstantially less than the diameter of the perforation I9, while theflange 25 45 projects outwardly of the external surface of thecylindrical portion 21 a distance equal to at least twice the differencebetween the external diameter of the cylindrical portion 21 and thediameter of the perforation I! so that the flange will completely coverthe perforation l9 no matter how great the eccentricity of the axis ofthe tube end with respect to the center of the perforation l9.

Thepcdcstal II has an opening 33 adapted to 55 snugly receive a cable 3|forming a part of the external electrical circuit with which the end ofthe discharge device is connected. The upper end of the pedestal 3|contains a pair of spaced horns 31 projecting beyond the upper end ofthe pedestal. A preferably metallic conducting strip 39 is fastenedacross the upper end of the pedestal 3i between the horns 31, theopposite ends of the strip being bent downwardly along the opposed sidesof the pedestal end. The end edges of the strip are curled as at 4! tocrimpingly receive the bared end 43 of the cable 35 The strip 39 is ormay be fastened to the end of the pedestal in any suitable fashion as bymeans of the fastening screw 45 and serves to support a contact member41 yieldingly in co-axial alignment with the channel 23 of thedevice-supporting bushing. The contact 41 comprises a preferablycircular dished plate of suitable conducting material .which isyieldably supported from the pedestal 3| and electrically connected withthe conductor strip 39 preferably by means of a resilient mountingcomprising a wire of resilient conducting material formed substantiallyas shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the wire being bent at its midpointto form a pair of substantially parallel arms 49, the ends 51 of whichare bent to substantially semi-circular configuration and crimpinglyreceived in the curled edge 53 of the plate 41. The central portions ofthe wire 49 are se-' cured electrically and mechanically to the strip39, the strip being preferably crimped as at 55 onto the spaced arms 49near the central portions of the wire. The arms 49 are also preferablybent as at 51 to improve the yielding character of the mounting. It willbe obvious that the contact, the resilient mounting, and the strip 39may be formed and assembled as a unit and mounted as such upon thepedestal 3| simply by applying the holding screw 45. It will be notedalso that the arms 49 extend on opposite sides of the horns 31 of thepedestal and that the horns extend substantially above the resilientmounting wire in order to protect the same against mechanical damage.The resilient mounting is formed to normally support the contact 41 inthe dotted position shown in Figure 1. when the end ll of the dischargedevice is inserted through thechannel 23 of the bushing 2|, its ferruledtip 59 will engage the contact 41 and force it to the full line positionillustrated in Figure 1, thus forming an electrical connection betweenthe ferrule 59 and the electrical conductor 43.

The bushing 2| and pedestal 3| may be formed of porcelain, lava,moldable materials such as the reaction product of phenol andformaldehyde, and other suitable non-conducting materials. The pedestaland bushin moreover, may be formed as cheap molded elements while theelectrode 41, its resilient mounting, and the connector strip 39 arealso inexpensive to make.

The device is rugged and may be assembled easily on a panel by unskilledoperators, since it is necessary only to crimp one curled edge 4| 3spect to the axis of the bushing, a contact and ment on a panelcomprising a pair of co-operatthat numerous changes may be made in theform, construction, and of the several parts without departing fromthespirit or scope of my invention, or sacrificing any of its attendantadvantages; the form herein described being preferred embodiments forthe purpose of illustrating my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows: 1

1. A mounting for supporting a disclnrge element on a perforated panel,a pedestal, means to support an element in and secure the pedestal on apanel, contact means carried by said pedestal in position to engage thesupported 14 element, said contact means a plate,

a resilient mounting for said plate comprising a pair of electricalconducting members crimpingly secured to said plate, and a strip ofelectrical conducting material crimpingly secured to the 21 conductingmembers at a point remote from said plate, means to secure said strippon said pedestal, said strip being formed with curled portions forreceiving and forming electrical contact with a conductor of an externalelectrical circuit, said pedestal having an end projection extendingbetween and beyond said conducting members to protect the same againstdamage.

2. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of eo-operating elements, means comprising interfltting partswhereby said elements may be connected together and mounted on a panel,one of said elements forming a bushing to receive and support a dis-.charge element and the other comprising a pedestal adapted for mountingon the panel in position to extend in ofiset relationship with remeansto mount the same on the pedestal in axial alignment with said bushing,and in pofltion to 4 engage and form electrical contact with a dischargeelement supported by said bushing when the co-operating, elements are inmounted position on the panel.

3. A mounting for supporting a discharge ele- 4 ment on a panelcomprising a pair of co-operating elements, means comprisinginter-fitting parts whereby said elements may be connected together andmounted on a panel, one of said elements forming a bushing to receiveand support a dis- 5 charge element and the other comprising a pedestaladapted for mounting on the panel in position to. extend in ofisetrelationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, said pedestalbeing provided with a channel for snugly receiv- 5 ing and supporting acable conductor, a contact, and means to support the contact from saidpedestal in axial alignment with said bushing and in position to engageand support an electrical contact with a discharge element'supported insaid bushing when the parts aremounted on a panel, said means serving toprovide electrical connection between said contact and a cable conductor supported in said channel.

4. A mounting for supporting a discharge eleing elements, meanscomprising inter-fitting parts whereby said elements may be connectedtogether and mounted on a panel, one of said elements forming a bushingto receive and support a discharge element and the other comprising apedestal adapted for mounting on the panel in position to extend inofiset relationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, said being7| aosaaso I I 3 provided with a channel extending in a nonradialdirection with respect to the axis of the bushing, said channel beingadapted for the removable reception of a cable conductor, a contact, andmeans on said pedestal and operatively connected with said contact tosupport same in position and to provide electrical connection betweensaid contact and a cable conductor supported in said channel.

5. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of co-operating elements, means comprising interfitting partswhereby said elements may be connected together and mounted on a panel,one of said elements forming a bushing to receive and support adischarge element and the other comprising a pedestal adapted formounting on the panel in position to extend in offset relationship withrespect to the axis of the bushing, said pedestal being provided with achannel for the reception of a cable conductor, a contact, and resilientmeans on said pedestal and operatively connected with the contact toyieldingly support the same.

from the pedestal in position. to make electrical contact with adischarge device mounted in the bushing, said resilient means alsoserving to provide electrical connection between said contact, and acable conductor supported in said channel.

6. A mounting as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means to mount thecontact on the pedestal comprises a resilient conductor element securedto the contact and extending substantially radially therefrom to thepedestal, said resilient conductor being secured to the pedestal wherebythe flexibility of the radially extending conductor element provides foryieldingly supporting the contact from the pedestal.

7. A mounting as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for mounting thecontact on the pedestal comprises a resilient conductor element loopedsubstantially at its mid portion and having spaced arms secured to thecontact and extending therefrom to the pedestal and/the element beingsecured to the pedestal substantially at its looped portion.

8. A mounting as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for mounting thecontact on the pedestal comprises a resilient conductor element loopedsubstantially at its mid-portion and having spaced arms secured to thecontact and extending therefrom to the pedestal and the element beingsecured to the pedestal substantially at its looped portion, each arm ofsaid resilient element being curled intermediate the looped portion andthe contact to increase their yielding support action.

9. A mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein 5 the end of the pedestalis provided with spaced upstanding horns and the means for mounting thecontact on the pedestal comprises an element connected to the contactand extending to and secured to the pedestal between said upstanding 1horns.

10. A mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein I the end of thepedestal is provided with spaced upstanding horns and the means formounting the contact on the pedestal comprises a connector secured tothe contact and having a pair of arms extending on opposite sides ofsaid horns and secured to the pedestal.

11. A mounting as set forth in claim 2, wherein the end of the pedestalis provided with spaced 2o upstanding horns and the means for mountingthe contact on the pedestal comprises a connector secured to the contactand having a pair of arms extending on oppositesides of the horns and aportion interconnecting said arms and extending between said horns andsecured to the pedestal.

12. A mounting for use in combination with a discharge device and asupport panel on which it is mounted, comprising a pair of co-operatingelements adapted for mounting on the panel, one of said elements forminga support comprising a flange-like base provided with a perforation andan oflset pedestal portion extending from the base adjacent the edge ofsaid perforation, another of said elements forming a clamp comprising asupport member provided with a channel and having portions arranged fordetachable connection with co-operating portions of said base whereby tosecure the parts together, said base having a flange whereby toclampingly receive the panel between said base and the flange in orderto support the mounting on the panel, a contact, and means to yieldinglymount the contact on the pedestal in axial alignment with the channel ofsaid support member when the co-operating elements are in mountedposition 7 on the panel so that a discharge element inserted in thechannel may be snugly supported by the clamp in position engaging theaxially aligned so contact.

'1 G. HAMMAR.

